Bloomington
University of California, Santa UniversityBarbaraofChicago (4) University of Connecticut University of Maryland, College UniversityUniversityUniversityParkofMiamiofMichigan,AnnArbor(4)ofPennsylvania
Lehigh MassachusettsUniversityInstitute of MiamiTechnologyUniversity, Oxford Middlebury College (2) Muhlenberg College New York NorthwesternNortheasternUniversityUniversityUniversity (3)
Bucknell University
2022 Newsletter | RCDS Student Achievements from the 2021-22
Colleges and Universities
American University of Paris Amherst College
Choate Rosemary Hall
Southern Methodist University Stanford University Syracuse University The Cooper Union Trinity College
(One attendee unless otherwise indicated)
Grinnell IndianaHaverfordCollegeCollegeUniversity
Fall School Year
Tufts University (2)
Brown University Bryn Mawr College
Johns Hopkins University
Peking PolimodaUniversityInternational Institute Princeton University Rice RochesterUniversityInstitute of Technology (2) Saint Louis University Skidmore College (2)
Celebrating our graduates!
Colby ColgateCollegeUniversity (3) Colorado GeorgetownFurmanFordhamEmoryElonDukeDartmouthCornellConnecticutCollegeCollegeUniversity(3)College(2)University(3)University(2)UniversityUniversityUniversityUniversity
(3)
Rye Country Day School recognized students in the twelfth, eighth, and fourth grades during three festive graduations. Read about these milestone events on page 2.
RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE
Bates BostonCollegeUniversity (3)
(3)
Tulane University of Louisiana (4) University of California, Los Angeles
University of Richmond University of Rochester (2) University of Southern California University of St. Andrews, UK University of Texas, Austin University of Virginia (2) University of Wisconsin, Madison (2) Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis (4) Wellesley YaleWilliamsWestminsterCollegeSchoolCollegeUniversity(2)
Barnard College
Members of Rye Country Day School’s Class of 2022 are attending the following
On June 10, 2022, the Class of 2022 was recognized during Rye Country Day’s 153rd Graduation Exercises. The ceremony featured remarks from the Senior Class President, Leah Colin ’22, the Student Body President, Maya Hirani ’22, and the Graduation Speaker, RCDS Head of School Scott A. Nelson, in honor of his culminating year at the helm. The RCDS Concert Choir performed Handel’s “Hallelujah,” and the WildScats delivered an inspiring performance of Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again.” Congratulations, Class of 2022! Throughout your RCDS careers, you have impressed, inspired, and invigorated us. We are proud of your many accomplishments, and we are grateful for your many contributions to our community.
UPPER SCHOOL TOCONGRATULATIONSGRADUATIONTHECLASSOF2022!
2 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022
RCDS Concert Choir RCDS WildScats
Maya Hirani
Dr. USdeChabert,MeredithPrincipal
Leah Colin
MIDDLE GRADUATIONSCHOOL
4 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022
On June 8, 2022, the Class of 2026 celebrated their Middle School graduation. The ceremony included remarks from Middle School Principal Ryan Song and Head of School Scott Nelson, as well as the graduation address by Class Speakers Nola Coady ’26 and Marlena Masucci ’26 and the welcome to the Upper School from Student Body President Tyler Moyer ’23. Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Tyler Moyer
Ryan Song, MS Principal
Nola Coady and MasucciMarlena
Brooke W. Jack M.
Zayd K.
On June 7, 2022, fourth graders moved up to the Middle School! The event included remarks from Lower School Principal Stacey Sotirhos and Head of School Scott Nelson. In addition, each fourth grade class recited a poem they wrote together and elected a representative to speak on their behalf. Zayd K. ’30, Jack M. ’30, Jordan H. ’30, and Brooke W. ’30 shared their perspectives on the milestone moving-up moment and their experiences throughout their Lower School years. Congratulations, Class of 2030!
Stacey Sotirhos, LS
GRADE CEREMONYMOVING-UP4
JordanPrincipalH.
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UPPER AWARDSSCHOOL
HEAD OF SCHOOL'S PRIZE
PARENTS ASSOCIATION PRIZE
Felix Dosmond ’23 Tatiana Leonard ’23 Tyler Moyer ’23
Presented to seniors who actively promote and inspire collaboration and display passion for design and creativity within the STEAM program.
THE SUPERINTENDENT’S AWARD
Given to students who model leadership, courage, or academic excellence. Yuto Abe ’22 Grace Casale ’22
JAMES P. GODFREY H’95 AWARD
Donald Kyle ’81
Leah Colin ’22 Maya Hirani ’22 Reese Wolfe ’22
In memory of the School’s former Director of College Counseling. Given to a senior for a combination of outstanding academics and contributions to the School.
GRETCHEN PULVERMANN ’30 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Caroline Keating ’22
Rye Country Day School’s Prize Day ceremony was held on June 6, 2022. We were thrilled to recognize our outstanding prize winners for their impressive achievements throughout the 2021-22 school year. Congratulations to all!
The School’s highest honor, awarded to seniors who have made the most outstanding contribution to the life of the School. Hudson Friedman ’22 Maya Kini ’22
ALUMNI PRIZE
Ritchel Amankwah ’22
THE GLEN ROBERTSON AWARD (for Faculty)
Upper School Dean of Students
Grade 10 Dean
DENNIS PARKER ’73 PRIZE
Awarded to students who best exemplify the School’s sustainability initiative by seeking an understanding of the world around us, creating an atmosphere of environmental awareness, and promoting responsible stewardship of our planet.
MARY ANN REICHHARDT MEMORIAL AWARD
Kyle Block ’22
CLASS OF 2008 AWARD
Given by the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents to two seniors for high academic achievement.
Lior Gurion ’22
In recognition of exemplary personal growth and service to others.
Given to seniors who have made our school community more inclusive by celebrating diversity, raising awareness about issues of equity and social justice, and inspiring others to recognize the humanity of all people. Ritchel Amankwah ’22 Tyfani Fennell ’22
WILL MCCURDY ’05 AWARD
Given to an accomplished senior who will study performing arts in college. Magdalene Aideyan ’22
CHRISTINE NELSON ’80 AWARD
Upper School English Teacher
Given annually to ninth graders who have had the most positive influence in and outside of the classroom, noting their enthusiasm and dedication to school work and extracurricular activities. Joaquin Gonzalez ’25 Isabella Jolicoeur ’25
SENIOR DEANS’ AWARD
Gabriella Jolly ’22
Presented to students who have performed significant service on behalf of others.
Presented in recognition of courage, character, and commitment. Yana Jayampathy ’22 Ella Weinstein ’22
Presented to tenth graders in recognition of outstanding citizenship. David Colin ’24 Isabel Tiburcio ’24
SUSTAINABILITY’22 AWARD
Sofia Medina
Daniela Soto ’22
Marin Yearley ’22
STEAM AWARD
6 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022 2022 PRIZE DAY
Awarded to seniors who have made an outstanding contribution to their class and to the School during their senior year.
Her desire to push herself physically is equally impressive. She participated in RCDS’s Track team, captained the Cross Country and Fencing teams, and holds a seconddegree black belt in karate. Success simply rests in a willingness to work hard, she avers.
Hudson is also grateful—and more than a bit surprised—to be a recipient of this year’s Alumni Prize. “I was surprised to hear my name called,” he admits. “I thought there were so many people deserving of the award. After the initial shock wore off, I felt a sense of pride. I feel fulfilled with all that I accomplished at and because of RCDS.”
Hard work is a familiar concept to Maya. After arriving at RCDS in the sixth grade, she proceeded to take an ambitious course load that ran the gamut from creative writing and Spanish language and literature to the sciences. She was equally committed to extracurriculars, serving as a peer tutor in chemistry and Spanish, a co-editor of the OMEGA literary magazine, and a tour guide.
Maya plans to continue her learning journey at the University of Chicago where she is considering a major in economics with a specialty in data science and a minor in Spanish and posits that there may be a quantitative career path in her future. “Right now, I’m keeping my options open,” she says cheerfully. Whatever goals she sets, she is sure to realize them while simultaneously enriching her surrounding community.
By Lori Ferguson
Hudson Friedman ’22
Take his studies in Mandarin, for example, which Hudson began as an RCDS Middle Schooler and continued to pursue with immense success through his senior year. He spent a summer studying Chinese in Beijing through Middlebury College’s Interactive Language Immersion Program and was one of just two high school students to complete an economics course in the history of US/China relations through Harvard University’s extension program while simultaneously carrying a full load at RCDS. “My language studies at RCDS sparked an interest in Chinese culture and US/China relations, which has expanded into more global interests,” he explains.
Maya Kini ’22
The Alumni Prize is the School’s highest honor, and it is awarded to seniors who have made the most outstanding contribution to the life of the School.
ALUMNI PRIZE RECIPIENTS
And that encouragement has had long-term benefits, he adds. “During my time at RCDS, I learned how to take in new information effectively and really apply myself, whether in the classroom or on the playing field. I’m so grateful to all the teachers and coaches who guided and encouraged me.”
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Maya is modest in the face of such accolades. “I just loved the opportunity to delve deeply into lots of different subjects during my time at RCDS. Having the opportunity to engage in advanced coursework was really cool.”
She is humbled to have been chosen as an Alumni Prize winner. “I was super honored and so grateful to those who have helped me,” she says. “Receiving the prize made me reflect on my parents, teachers, and friends, all of whom have given me so much these past several years.”
Witnessing RCDS teachers’ willingness to go the extra mile for their students has made an impression, Maya continues. “They taught me that it’s always OK to ask for help,” she explains. “There were so many times when just raising a question helped me get the information I needed. Making connections with people is incredibly helpful.”
Hudson credits his six years at Rye Country Day for nurturing his intellectual curiosity. “At RCDS, it was easy for me to spread my wings here and get involved in lots of different activities, which I loved,” he observes. His involvement in the performing arts offers just such an example. “My experience as choir president, acting in musicals, and performing guitar was integral to my RCDS experience,” says Hudson. “I’m also grateful for the ways in which RCDS connected me to service opportunities through the arts, like performing for the ARC Westchester organization and teaching guitar through Soundwaves. My teachers always encouraged me to try whatever I wanted—there was no pressure to stick with just one thing,” he insists.
Hudson Friedman is not a student who is easily pigeonholed. A standout in the classroom, he graduated from RCDS with a transcript abundant with honors, advanced, and AP courses in classes that swing from the social sciences to STEM. He distinguished himself in a wide array of extracurricular roles, too, from Oral Proficiency Intern and leader of the Middle Eastern Studies Club to member of the Peer Leadership Program and captain of the Football team. “I love trying new things and expanding my experience,” he says modestly.
As a matriculating student at the University of Pennsylvania, Hudson plans to continue pushing the boundaries, and he is actively thinking about potential majors. “Chinese, physics, business, and innovation are all areas that interest me. One day I hope to start my own business and somehow make an impact on the world,” he concludes. “I want to do something out of the ordinary.”
Outside of RCDS, Maya participated in the Rockefeller University Summer Science Research program, conducting biomedical research on biomaterials by studying the development of silkworms. She also worked as a research assistant at Montefiore Medical Center studying race and gender-based health disparities. “Her transcript is one of the strongest I’ve seen in my time at RCDS,” says Senior Associate Director of College Counseling Susan Davidson.
Faculty members praise Maya for her intellectual prowess, and in return, she honors their commitment to education. “Every teacher I had wanted me to succeed,” she asserts. “I asked a lot of questions, and the teachers were always patient and helpful and took lots of time with me.”
Maya Kini loves an academic challenge. As a Middle Schooler at RCDS, she developed an interest in Spanish and began trying to read popular books like the Harry Potter series in the language for fun. Today she reads classics in the language in her favorite genre, magical realism.
By Lori Ferguson
In return, Yuto worked very hard to make RCDS a special place for others. Actively engaged in the school community, he served as a Peer Leader, captained the Cross Country and Track and Field teams, and worked with the Asian American and Pacific Islander Club and the schoolwide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee. “I’m Japanese and I’ve become passionate about helping others feel represented,” he explains. “Being a minority has made me aware of the importance of having a say in how the School operates and how our community is shaped. I want to help others, not only to belong but also to lead in their own ways.”
The Head of School’s Prize is given to students who model leadership, courage, or academic excellence.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Yuto has moved back and forth between his home country and New York throughout his life, a peripatetic existence that informs his worldview. “It’s incredible how many people I’ve met over the past 18 years,” he explains, “and that’s important because it has helped me appreciate how valuable the human connection is and what it means.” For Yuto, attending RCDS has been an enriching journey of community connection, experiential learning, and intellectual exploration.
RCDS teachers hold a special place in Grace’s heart. “They were passionate about their work and always willing to spend one-on-one time with students. Academically, they taught me you don’t have to be great at everything, but you must keep trying, even if it’s hard,” she asserts. “And outside the classroom, they taught me to take the time to understand people.”
Grace matriculates at Dartmouth this fall. She is considering a major in biology and eyeing the prospect of medical school. She also plans to remain active in the arts, music, and theater, while also joining the ski patrol and serving as a student EMT. And she’ll continue to watch Star Trek, the show that inspired her to write a full-length original musical, which premiered in the Dunn Performing Arts Center the spring of her senior year. “I really like Star Trek,” she concludes with a laugh. Clearly, there’s no limit to where this inquisitive young scholar’s wide ranging passions and potential will lead her.
Grace was also renowned for her irrepressible delight in off-beat pursuits such as juggling or riding a unicycle. “I learned to juggle because I wasn’t doing well in math and wanted another challenge, and I learned to unicycle during the pandemic quarantine because I liked the idea of riding down the street on a unicycle waving at joggers,” she confesses with a laugh. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being an attention seeker—I have always liked to entertain.”
HEAD OF SCHOOL’S PRIZE RECIPIENTS
Grace Casale started at RCDS 14 years ago, or as she puts it, “ the dawn of time.” And it’s evident that she made the most of every moment. A classroom standout, she pursued an ambitious course of study, driven by what one teacher characterized as “an almost frighteningly insatiable curiosity.”
Grace Casale ’22
The encouragement he received at RCDS has been especially meaningful for Yuto. “I feel truly honored and humbled to have received the Head of School’s Prize,” he concludes. “It reminds me once again of the support that I have received from members of the RCDS community, and for that, I am deeply appreciative.”
Yuto Abe ’22
During her Upper School years, Grace has been widely recognized for her commitment to learning. In ninth grade, she claimed the Class of 2008 Award, acknowledging her positive influence in and outside of the classroom. In tenth grade, she won the sophomore English award. These honors were made even sweeter by winning the Head of School’s Prize as a senior. “I was excited,” Grace recalls, “then I was also grateful. And touched. I got to experience a moment that felt like the culmination of my fourteen years at Rye Country Day, a moment that assured me my presence mattered to the School just as the School has mattered to me. Receiving that award was an honor and source of validation, but perhaps most importantly, another reminder of the love I’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate. A reminder of the relationships that have altered the trajectory of my life and mutual importance of the connections I’ve made here. I love the people here.”
“Rye Country Day’s motto, Not for Self, but for Service, is a guiding principle for me,” says Yuto. “Service to others is more than you think, and it can mean many different things. Our motto has really informed my four years at RCDS. I’m always thinking about how I can contribute to the community and create momentum for change.” This is work Yuto hopes to continue when he enters college at the University of Chicago this fall. “I’m very proud to say I’m an official RCDS graduate, and I hope I can create a similar sense of community in college.”
Yuto’s community engagement extended beyond RCDS, too. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded Wildcats Pave the Way!, a student-run partner of God’s Love We Deliver—an NYC nonprofit that provides meals to chronic disease patients—and developed creative fundraising initiatives while volunteering onsite. In recognition of his dedication to service, citizenship, and giving to others, Yuto received the Christine Nelson Award in Grade 10 and the James P. Godfrey Award in Grade 11.
While this delight in creativity characterizes all of Grace’s pursuits, one shouldn’t be fooled. In addition to harboring an artistic bent, Grace is deeply serious about learning and finds particular joy in the sciences and biology. “The more you learn about the complexity of the human body, the more beautiful it is,” she enthuses before sharing that a career in medicine is a distinct possibility.
8 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022
During his four years at the School, Yuto distinguished himself in the classroom, excelling in math and chemistry honors classes and computer science, physics, and U.S. history AP courses. He also participated in the Young Physicist Tournament and had a history paper published in the International Young Researchers’ Conference. “This community has made me keenly aware of how much I learn through interactions with others, and the mix of academic and extracurricular activities I’ve enjoyed has made the School a very special place for me,” he observes.
Yuto Abe is an accomplished student who brought to his cohort and the School what one faculty member characterizes as his “tremendous maturity and worldliness.”
Alexander Nichols ’22
BROWN UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD
Grace Casale ’22
JOSHUA BENNETT ’06 HUMANITIES AWARD
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE BOOK AWARD
PRIZE DAY Continued from page 6 UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS
Given to students who have contributed most backstage to the School’s drama program. Amitav Nott ’22 Ella Santomero ’22
Amitav Nott ’22
www.ryecountryday.org | 9
Rohan Malik ’23
Chloe Wise ’22 Sean Kook ’22
Henry Geller ’22
DEPARTMENTCLASSICS
Given to students who have contributed most onstage to the School’s drama program.
AWARDSBOOK
Elizabeth Lee ’23
Baker Charbonnet ’22
Ellie Stevens ’22
COMPUTER DEPARTMENTSCIENCE
Yana Jayampathy ’22
HARVARD COLLEGE BOOK AWARD
CORNELIUS TACITUS PRIZE
LELIA CARTER BIRRELL ’68 AWARD IN 2-D
Sofia Petricone ’23
LELIA CARTER BIRRELL ’68 AWARD IN NajahVIDEOGRAPHYDiaz’22
THE MARY BORTON TROPHY
Grace Casale ’22 Yana Jayampathy ’22 Reese Wolfe ’22
Benjamin Mathias ’23
Henry Featherston ’22
COMPUTER SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Aadi Bhattacharya ’23
CLASSICS AWARD
Marin Yearley ’22
DANCE AWARD
LELIA CARTER BIRRELL ’68 AWARD IN 3-D Chidi Olewuenyi ’22
LELIA CARTER BIRRELL ’68 AWARD IN CarolinePHOTOGRAPHYHarkness ’22
DRAMA & DEPARTMENTDANCE
Presented to juniors who have excelled in the study of humanities.
CREATIVE WRITING AWARD
William Mahoney ’23 Lauren Kim ’23
SCOTT A. NELSON SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
FAA THEGabriellaSCHOLAR-ATHLETEJolly’22RICHARDLEMAIRE ’63 AWARD
LATIN AWARD
Presented to the senior girl who has contributed most to the School’s athletic program.
YALE UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD
Jeffrey Tian ’22 Ellie Stevens ’22
V. JANET LOTT SPIRIT OF THE THEATRE AWARD
SENIOR ENGLISH AWARD
DEPARTMENTHUMANITIES
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BOOK
Penelope Brody ’24 Scarlett Crakes ’22
GLEN ROBERTSON MEMORIAL AWARD
Presented to the senior boy who has contributed most to the School’s athletic program.
Charlotte Ballantoni ’22
Caroline Keating ’22
THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY ALUMNI BOOK AWARD
DEPARTMENTENGLISH
THE PRINCETON UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD
WilliamAWARDMahoney ’23
ATHLETICS
SOPHOMORE ENGLISH AWARD
Presented to students who have contributed most to the School’s dance program. Chidi Olewuenyi ’22
Ruth Zhao ’23
ARTAWARDSDEPARTMENT
COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD
Presented to sophomores who have excelled in the study of English. Sofia Castaneda ’24 Jane Saltz ’24 Isabel Tiburcio ’24
Recognizes that senior student-athlete whose passion for athletics, combined with their commitment to academics, strengthens their team, their class, and the entire RCDS community.
Yuto Abe ’22
Emily Kolodner ’23
Reece Haft-Abromovitch ’22
Ricardo Coates ’23
Neil Noronha ’24
Raghav Srinivasan ’23 Ellie Stevens ’22 Amitav Suchdev ’22 Luke Sullivan ’23
Natalie Shin ’23 Ian Shurslep ’23 Nathaniel Smith ’23 Daniela Soto ’22 Aditya Vyas ’23 Emilie Ward ’23
Avery Moulle-Berteaux ’22 Nicholas Neshovski ’23
Trinity Parameswaran ’23
Jordyn Roskind ’23
Raizuli Shah ’23
66 AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION
Christopher Harris ’23
William Mahoney ’23
Alexander Nichols ’22 Amitav Nott ’22 Lucas Oddi ’22
Charles Eubanks ’23
Elizabeth Lee ’23
Chloe Wise ’22
144 Rye Country Day students were recognized by the College Board’s 2022 Advanced Placement Program for their outstanding achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Exams.
Jeffrey Tian ’22 John Tinker ’22 Mark Vollmer ’22 Elliot Walker ’22
Charlotte Lee ’22
Christopher Casale ’22 Grace Casale ’22
Scarlett Crakes ’22 Eileen Deng ’23 Allison Duffy ’23 Jack Dunn ’22
Henry Featherston ’22 Hudson Friedman ’22 Henry Geller ’22 Natasha Gilman ’22 Lior Gurion ’22
Carter Appleyard ’23 Rahul Arora ’25
Sofia Petricone ’23
Ronen Borkar ’23
Jeffrey Wang ’23 Ella Weinstein ’22 Ana Wilmer ’22
Studentswhoreceivedanaveragescoreofatleast3.25onallAPExamstaken,andscoresof3orhigheronfourormoreoftheseexams.
M. Bremer ’23
Olivia Craig ’23 Julia Eason ’23
Julia Rose French ’22 Jack Hammel ’22 Maya Hirani ’22 Caroline Keating ’22 Adam Kern ’23 Anya Khemlani ’23 Lauren Kim ’23 Sean Kook ’22
Julia Carroll ’22
Sofia Castaneda ’24
Sriya Krishnan ’22
Leo Rosen ’22
Avery Smith ’23
Baker Charbonnet ’22 Leah Colin ’22
Dante Tabossi Zugman ’23
Peter Nicholas ’22
10 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022
Zachary Ben-Meir ’23
Henry Cohn ’23
Sinclair Kennedy-Nolle ’22 Maya Kini ’22
Chidi Olewuenyi ’22 Alexander Pearle ’23 Samantha Penn ’23 Devan Phelan ’22 Archer Pil ’23 Sophia Salzman ’22 Benjamin Schwab ’22 Joenoes Shah ’22 Alexa Shea ’22
Wyatt Boester ’22
Samuel Kroin ’22
William Kosann ’22 Connor Le Lievre ’22 Julia Marrinan ’23 Victoria Medow ’23
Alexa Bournazos ’22
Aveer Pandey ’23
Samuel Sindell ’22
Maisie Rochat ’22
Nolan James ’22
Anthony Pisacano ’23 Chloe Robinson ’22
Luke Beyer ’23
Kyle Block ’22
Gabriella Jolly ’22 Kate Kissell ’22
Jahan Arjomand ’22
Rohan Malik ’23
32 AP SCHOLARS WITH HONOR
Emma Budke ’22
Dylan Mentzer ’23
Morgan Daily ’23
Quinn Sullivan ’23
Magdalene Aideyan ’22
Zachary Cornell ’22
Ade Larsen ’23
Aadi Bhattacharya ’23
Caroline Harkness ’22 Dillon Hurst ’23
Sabrina Fang ’23
Causey Green III ’23
Cameron Garbutt ’22 Jose Gonzalez ’22
ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS
Yana Jayampathy ’22
Sofia Rodriguez ’22
46 AP SCHOLARS
Felix Dosmond ’23
Students who received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Ryan Brush ’22 Mary Burdick ’22
Makayla Blake ’23 Sean Bremer ’23
Andrew Zhang ’24
Arthur Wang ’23
Sofia Medina ’22
These lists reflect the College Board’s AP Scholar reporting as of August 26, 2022.
Ryan Daum ’22
Sebastian Gallardo ’23
Cole Waldman ’22
Sydney Merrill ’23 Kristina Montgomery ’22 Tyler Moyer ’23
Zachary Ong ’22
Reese Wolfe ’22 Marin Yearley ’22 Ruth Zhao ’23
Studentswhoreceivedscoresof3or higheronthreeormoreAPExams.
Jack de Haan ’24
Liana Talpins ’23
Frederick Xu ’22
Jefferson Zhou ’24
Benjamin Mathias ’23
Owen Sharp ’22 Isabel Slippen ’23
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Grace Casale ’22 Hudson Friedman ’22
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA AWARD
SENIOR MATHEMATICS AWARD
DEPARTMENTSCIENCESNATURAL
CHORAL AWARD
Sofia Medina ’22 Maya Kini ’22 Julia Rose French ’22
DEPARTMENTMUSIC
JUNIOR MATHEMATICS AWARD
Cesar Morales ’22
SENIOR SCIENCE AWARD
Andrea Chang ’22 Lior Gurion ’22 Maya Kini ’22 Amitav Nott ’22
UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS continued
Gabriella Jolly ’22
Rohan Malik ’23
Jeffrey Tian ’22
MUSIC SinclairAWARDKennedy-Nolle ’22
Andrea Chang ’22
SPANISH AWARD
DEPARTMENTMATHEMATICS
Alexa Shea ’22 Daniela Soto ’22
CHINESE AWARD
Yana Jayampathy ’22 Hudson Friedman ’22
ROBERT REESER MEMORIAL AWARD
Awarded to the senior who has displayed a growing interest and talent in math over the years.
MODERN LANGUAGES AWARD
12 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022
DEPARTMENTLANGUAGESMODERN
FRENCH AWARD
GOLD AWARD Amy H. ’27
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
www.ryecountryday.org | 13
SILVER AWARD Alexa Chua ’26 Isha B. HONORABLE’28
MENTION
Middle School students participated in the 2021-22 CLASS (Chinese Language Association of Secondary & Elementary Schools) National Chinese Essay Contest.
2022 GREEK AWARDS
HOMERIC GREEK - ILIAD EXAM Green Ribbon (merit award) Ellie Stevens ’22 Christopher Casale ’22
Salvatore Bove ’26 Henry Holtman ’26 Xavier Perkins ’26
Zoe Sterling-Dixon ’26 Emma M. ’27
2022 CHINESE AWARDS
The 2022 National Greek Exam was taken by over 1,470 students from 169 universities, colleges, and secondary schools in the U.S. and around the world. Five Upper School Rye Country Day students took the exam, and two were named award winners.
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
MAXIMA CUM LAUDE
MAGNA CUM LAUDE Tyler Moyer ’23 Neil Noronha ’24 Sydney Snell ’24
MAGNA CUM LAUDE Silver Medal Awards Felipe Q. ’27 Maya T. ’27
CUM WinnDaniAwardsLAUDEWinter’26Metrailler ’26 Maggie Ben-Meir ’26 Dylan Fenyes ’26 Blakely Neren ‘26
LATIN 1
LATIN 2
CUM AmbikaLAUDENott ’25 Jordan Zhao INTERMEDIATE’24READING
SUMMA CUM LAUDE Gold Medal Awards Ariel Israel ’25
ADVANCED READING COMPREHENSION 1 SUMMA CUM LAUDE Gold Medal Awards Ellie Stevens ’22
MAGNA CUM LAUDE Isabella Jolicoeur ’25 James Murphy ’25 Eve Shurslep ’25 Keira Zheng INTERMEDIATE’25
UPPER SCHOOL
COMPREHENSION 1
14 | Recognizing Excellence Newsletter 2022
MAXIMA CUM LAUDE Silver Medal Awards Christopher Casale ’22
MAZIMA CUM LAUDE Silver Medal Awards Jack de Haan ’24 Lauren Kim ’24 Sofia Petricone ’24
MAXIMA CUM LAUDE Silver Medal Awards
David Kern ’25 Emma Silberstein ’25 Nicholas Smith ’25
SUMMA CUM LAUDE Gold Medal Awards Lucius Liu ’26 Harrison Moss ’26 (perfect paper)
SUMMA CUM LAUDE Gold Medal Awards Maya M. ’27 (perfect paper)
MAXIMA CUM LAUDE Silver Medal Awards Nathaniel Smith ’23 Quinn Sullivan ’23
MAGNA CUM LAUDE ArtemisAwards Lisker ’26 Milin Torgalkar ’26
LATIN EXAM
The National Latin Exam (NLE) is administered annually to Latin students across the United States and around the world. The NLE is not meant to be a competition but rather an opportunity for students to receive reinforcement and recognition for their accomplishments in the classroom. This year, 42 Rye Country Day students in Grades 7-12 were named NLE award winners across multiple levels of achievement.
BEGINNING LATIN EXAM MAXIMA CUM LAUDE Silver Medal Awards Tyler Perry ’25
Michael Dinger ’26 Andrew Gao ’26
MAGNA CUM LAUDE ArnavAwardsVyas INTERMEDIATE’25
MAGNA CUM LAUDE Aditya Vyas ’23
ADVANCED PROSE 1 SUMMA CUM LAUDE Gold Medal Awards William Mahoney ’23
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
NATIONAL LATIN EXAM
INTRODUCTION TO LATIN EXAM
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Silver Medal Awards
BEGINNINGSelaElleAwardsM.’27R.’27
CUM StellaLAUDEMaymin ’24 Sydney Merrill ’23
LEVEL 1 – Classroom Experience Category
LEVEL 01 – Outside Experience Category
LEVEL 3 – Outside Experience Category Isabel Tiburcio ’24
LEVEL 2 – Classroom Experience Category
LEVEL 3 – Classroom Experience Category
Grace Allen ’24 Aaden Johnson ’24
LEVEL 5 – Bilingual Category Sofia Medina ’22
LEVEL 2 – Outside Experience Category Blake James ’25 Isabela Pierry ’25
GOLD MEDAL
Max Garcia-Tunon ’24 Kyle Sisitsky ’25
LEVEL 01 – Outside Experience Category
SILVER MEDAL
LEVEL 01 – Outside Experience Category Hank B. ’27 Willem L. ’27 Lila W. ’27
LEVEL 2 – Classroom Experience Category
LEVEL 1 – Outside Experience Category Diana D. ’27 Kayla Erickson ’26 Kayla Parameswaran ’26
LEVEL 3 – Classroom Experience Category Benjamin Cousin ’24
The National Spanish Exam was administered to RCDS students in the Middle and Upper School in the spring.
Alexa Kim ’24 Katie Ohmacht ’24
LEVEL 3 – Bilingual Category Joaquin Gonzalez ’25
LEVEL 1 – Classroom Experience Category
LEVEL 2 – Bilingual Category Emely Luzon Vigay ’25
Sara K. ’27 Ella S. ’27
Arjun Arora ‘26
Frankie Hu ’26
LEVEL 3 – Classroom Experience Category
LEVEL 4 – Classroom Experience Category Julia Marrinan ‘23
LEVEL 3 – Bilingual Category Sebastian Briano ’24
Ellie Block ’25
Christian Helgesen ’26 Jackson Koslow ’26 Marlena Masucci ’26 Ken Sherry ’26
LEVEL 01 – Bilingual Category
Arav Ramaswamy ’26 Renna Thukral ’26
LEVEL 5 – Classroom Experience Category Maya Kini ’22
LEVEL 4 – Classroom Experience Category Jack de Haan ’24 Gracie Agulay ’23 Lauren Kim ’23 Ade Larsen ’23 Benjamin Mathias ’23 Jeffrey Wang ’23
LEVEL 01 – Bilingual Category Kevin N. ’27
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LEVEL 1 – Outside Experience Category
LEVEL 1 – Outside Experience Category Charlene Dong ’26 Nate Dunlop ’26 Andrew Eason ’26 Maguire Estill ’26 Elana Gershwin ’26 Evan Ripp ’26 Devon Smith ’26 Yana Thukral ’26
LEVEL 01 – Classroom Experience Category Caroline S. ’27
LEVEL 4 – Classroom Experience Category
Nola Coady ’26 David Colin ’24 Connor Davidson ’24 Ronald Feng ’24 Ava Herzog ’24
Ximena G. ’27
BRONZE MEDAL
Aidan McIntosh ’24 Elizabeth Owens ’24 Sarah Rivas ’24
Rahul Arora ’25 Emily Cheigh ’25 Henry Fogel ’25
Illaria L. ’27
Rhys de Haan ’25 Anika Kini ’25 Ana Petricone ’25 James Song ’25
Lincoln Feng ’26 Alex Gurion ’26
SPANISH AWARDS
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
Alexandra S. ’27 Amaya Y. ’27
LEVEL 01 – Classroom Experience Category Bailey D. ’27 Summer S. ’27
Maria Flores ’25
Raghav Srinivasan ’23 13th in Westchester and 17th in the nation
2nd in Westchester and 6th in the nation
7th in Westchester and 7th in the nation
1st in Westchester and 1st in the nation
Robert Wang ’25 6th in Westchester and 8th in the nation
Level Colette2BSawyer ’25 5th in Westchester and 5th in the nation
Kyle Sisitsky ’25 3rd in Westchester and 5th in the nation
BRONZE MEDAL Level 01A
1st in Westchester and 5th in the nation
Aegus Kim ’24
Aaden Johnson ’24 12th in Westchester and 12th in the nation
Level 4A Anya Khemlani ’23 6th in Westchester and 10th in the nation
Davis Clarke ’25
Zoe Roth ’25 6th in Westchester and 6th in the nation
GOLD MEDAL Level
1stJacob01AF.’27inWestchester and 4th in the nation
Level 3A Cole Denson ’24 6th in Westchester and 8th in the nation
Level Natalia3AKochut ’24 10th in Westchester and 12th in the nation
Felix Caminiti ’25
Annabella Yu ’26 9th in Westchester and 9th in the nation
Tyler Hatstadt ’26 7th in Westchester and 9th in the nation
Level Space4APace ’24
Eliana Thomas ’26 1st in Westchester and 3rd in the nation
Level 2A
Nicholas Crevier ’26 4th in Westchester and 4th in the nation
Archer Pil ’23 2nd in Westchester and 6th in the nation
SILVER MEDAL Level Maleah01AD. ’27
Mara Visentin ’25 11th in Westchester and 11th in the nation
Level 2A
Piper Migden ’24 13th in Westchester and 15th in the nation
Isabela Pierry ’25 2nd in Westchester and 2nd in the nation
FRENCH AWARDS
Level 3A
Level 5A Chidi Olewuenyi ’22 5th in Westchester and 15th in the nation
Valerie Umanzor ’24 2nd in Westchester and 4th in the nation
Carter Richert ’25 8th in Westchester and 8th in the nation
Middle and Upper School students participated in Le Grand Concours, the National French Contest, in March. Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded.
PLATINUM MEDAL
4th in Westchester and 4th in the nation
Level 1A
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Lydia Sussman ’26 4th in Westchester and 4th in the nation
Zara K. ’27 4th in Westchester and 8th in the nation
Donna Zhang ‘24 8th in Westchester and 10th in the nation
Level 4A Luke Sullivan ’23 11th in Westchester and 15th in the nation
Level 2A
4th in Westchester and 4th in the nation
Samantha Lee ’25 8th in Westchester and 8th in the nation
Level Taeko2AFueno ’25 10th in Westchester and 10th in the nation
Mina Kim ’24 2nd in Westchester and 4th in the nation
Leo Roth ’25
Level Claire1AKavanagh ’26 10th in Westchester and 10th in the nation
Arthur Wang ’23 6th in Westchester and 6th in the nation
8th in Westchester and 8th in the nation
Nina Bortner-Hirszman ’26
2nd in Westchester and 2nd in the nation
Level 1A Stella Huber ’26 5th in Westchester and 5th in the nation
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
Leah Steyn ’25 5th in Westchester and 5th in the nation
Chase Feckl ’26 13th in Westchester and 13th in the nation
Henry H. ’27 5th in Westchester and 9th in the nation
Andrea Chang ’22 was named a candidate in the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which recognizes the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Andrea is an excellent student with impressive academic and extracurricular achievements. During her time at the RCDS, she took the most rigorous courses—from advanced STEM topics to Honors and AP English—and her performance was consistently stellar. As an Upper School student, she was active in the Math Club, the Asian-American Club, the Girls’ Varsity Squash team, and her regular piano practice. Combining her dedication to the greater good with her interest in computer science, Andrea contributed her talents to Encode Justice, a global youth initiative that fights discrimination in artificial intelligence. She also volunteered weekly at Pound Ridge Town Senior Living Center.
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Isabel Tiburcio ’24 was selected for the U.S. Senate Page Program, a prestigious program that gives high school students the opportunity to work with Senators and government leaders while also participating in various field trips and meetings in Washington, D.C. As a Page, Isabel will play an important role in the day-to-day operations of the U.S. Senate. Duties include delivering correspondences, preparing the Chamber for sessions, and delivering bills and amendments to staff. Isabel earned one of only 30 available Page positions in this selective national program. National Merit Scholarship Finalists,
Andrea has participated in Columbia University’s Science Honors Program, MIT’s Coursera Online “Introduction to Python,’’ and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) internships program. In the summer preceding her junior year, she was chosen for a selective program at Princeton titled Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking. In the summer of 2021, Andrea was selected to participate in the Computational Linguistics Summer Program at Stony Brook University’s Institute of Advanced Computational Science. Andrea matriculates at Johns Hopkins University this fall.
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS Grace Casale ’22, Leah Colin ’22, Lior Gurion ’22, Jackson Merrill ’22, and Lucas Oddi ’22 were named
Andrea Chang
U.S. SENATE
Leah Colin
Isabel Tiburcio
Grace Casale
PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR CANDIDATE
making them part of a competitive pool of approximately 15,000 finalists nationwide.
PAGE
Lior Gurion
Jackson Merrill Lucas Oddi
Juliette M
REGENERON WESTCHESTER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE FAIR
Rohan’s project, Computational Biology, Promoter Capture Hi-C modeling Elucidates Regulatory Landscape in Immune Cells, was completed with a mentor from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
Juliette’s project, How Do Different Cooking Methods Affect Asorbic Acid Levels In Diospyros Kaki And Momordica Charantia?, won first place in the Middle School Health/Medicine category. Juliette was also selected as a nominee for the Broadcom MASTERS, a national competition for students in Grades 6 to 8 with a passion for STEM innovation. Juliette’s project was in the top 10 percent highest-scoring exhibits at the fair, making her eligible for this distinction.
Aadi Bhattacharya ’23, Rohan Malik ’23, and Emilie Ward ’23 recently presented their research work at Regeneron’s Westchester Engineering & Science Fair (WESEF), which encourages students to participate in handson science by providing a forum for showcasing the outstanding research of high school students in Westchester and Putnam counties.
Aadi Bhattacharya
WESTCHESTER STANYS AND NYS SCIENCE CONGRESS COMPETITION
Rohan Malik ’23 earned the highest honors at the 2022 Westchester Science Teachers Association of New York (STANYS) New York State Science Congress on June 11, 2022. Rohan’s project, Promoter Capture Hi-C Modeling Elucidates Regulatory Landscape in Immune Cells, was submitted under the biology category, and it stemmed from time spent working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Participating students had the option to either share their projects in person or do a remote live presentation—Rohan selected the in-person presentation option and traveled to Albany, NY, for the occasion. A minimum of four judges–college or university professors, science teachers, and scientists–evaluated each student’s research and presentation. The scoring rubric was based on the following criteria: background research; hypothesis, methods, and materials; results and analysis; significance; conclusions and future research; graphs/charts/schematics; presentation quality; and poster organization and aesthetic.
ADDITIONAL HONORS
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Emilie Ward
Rohan Malik
Aadi’s project, Cell Biology, Identifying Characteristics of CancerReactive Germinal Centers Using Multiplexed Immunohistochemistry, was completed with a mentor from New York University. Aadi was selected for the International GENIUS Olympiad, an international competition focused on environmental issues. He also won a spot to compete at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), the largest international science fair in the world, which brough together more than 1,800 science fair winners from over 75 countries in a hybrid format.
Emilie’s project, Environmental Science, The Effect of pH on Growth of Algae at Teatown Lake, was completed with a Teatown mentor. Emilie was named a U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner, and she received a nomination to enter the state water prize competition for her outstanding water science project.
Rohan’s project, Promoter Capture Hi-C modeling Elucidates Regulatory Landscape in Immune Cells, won first place in the High School Biology category. This qualified Rohan to compete in the New York Science Science Congress, where he earned the highest honors (read more above). Science Congress Nominee, and he competed in the New York State Science Congress.
TRI-COUNTY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FAIR
WESTCHESTER COUNTY REGIONAL ENVIROTHON COMPETITION
Juliette M. ’27 and Rohan Malik ’23 won first place in their respective categories at the 2022 Tri-County Science Fair.
The RCDS Envirothon Team, Anika Bhat ’25, Aadi Bhattacharya ’23, Sinclair Kennedy-Nolle ’22, Ade Larsen ’23, Elizabeth Lee ’23, Peter Nicholas ’22, and Liana Talpins ’23, won the Soil and Land Use category at the Westchester County Regional Envirothon Competition. The team competed in six different events, including Forestry, Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife, Soil and Land Use, Current Issues, and an Oral Presentation on Waste Management. The competition took place at Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem and was open to all high schools in Westchester County. Advised by Kerry Linderoth, RCDS Director of Sustainability, and Gennaro Ferraro, Conservation Educator at the Rye Nature Center, the students worked hard to prepare for this regional competition.
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Aidan McIntosh ’24, David Colin ’24, and Apolline Weinstein ’24 (Team ADA) placed third in the Bedford 2030 7th Annual Greenlight Award Finals. This virtual competition challenges teams of students to develop environmental ideas, identify solutions, and present their outcomes. Team ADA’s project, The Community Coalition, focused on encouraging local restaurants in Rye to become Green Restaurant Certified under the
ADDITIONAL HONORS
Green Restaurant Association (GRA). By becoming certified and following the GRA’s standard, restaurants have a transparent way to focus on measuring and improving their environmental sustainability through specific areas such as water efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling.
David Colin
Apolline Weinstein
BEDFORD 2030 GREENLIGHT AWARDS
RCDS EnvirothonAidanTeamMcIntosh
COOLIDGE SENATOR AND COCA-COLA SCHOLARS SEMIFINALIST
In the summer of 2021, Lior Gurion ’22 was named a Coolidge Senator by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. The Coolidge Senators Program recognizes the top 100 Coolidge Scholarship applicants, out of a national pool of almost 5,000, who demonstrate exceptional academic accomplishments, an interest in public policy, and a commitment to public service. As a Coolidge Senator, Lior received a one-time college scholarship award and participated in the annual Coolidge Senators Summit in Washington, D.C., this past summer. During the Summit, Coolidge Senators toured the nation’s capital, discussed pressing issues in policy and business with renowned experts, and engaged in formal debates on issues of national importance. Lior and his fellow Senators stayed just a block from the White House at the Willard Hotel, where Calvin Coolidge resided during his vice presidency. In the fall, Lior was selected as a semifinalist in the 2021-2022 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. He was one of 1,617 semifinalists chosen from over 68,000 applicants because of their outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and dedication to their communities. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievementbased scholarship program in the United States.
WOMEN AT MICROSOFT SCHOLARSHIP
Magdalene Aideyan ’22 was awarded a scholarship from the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Westchester Chapter. The Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship is awarded to exceptional, college-bound African-American female students based on grade-point average, letters of recommendation, academic achievement, community service, and leadership. Through programs and scholarships, Delta Sigma Theta provides assistance and support in local communities throughout the world, focused on its major programs of Economic Development, Physical and Mental Health, Educational Development, Political Awareness and Involvement, and International Awareness and Involvement. Magdalene will attend Washington University in St. Louis in the fall.
Magdalene Aideyan
ANITA AND BLAIR MAZIN SCHOLARSHIP, HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN (HLAA) WESTCHESTER CHAPTER
Nolan James ’22 received the Marge Manley Scholarship from the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound. The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate voluntarism and community service in the Sound Shore Area. Nolan has been a longtime volunteer with Meals on Main Street in Port Chester, developing new delivery strategies to help get groceries to families facing food insecurity. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nolan developed a safe method to get meals to families by asking local organizations to donate used bikes that were then used for deliveries.
Lior Gurion Reece Haft-Abromovitch
Nolan James Chidi Olewuenyi
Reece Haft-Abromovitch ’22 received a scholarship from the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Westchester Chapter. The Anita and Blair Mazin Scholarships are awarded by HLAA Westchester to outstanding high school seniors and adults with hearing loss for the pursuit of a college degree or vocational training. Reece will receive one of three scholarships, which are made possible by funds raised from Walk4Hearing, an annual national project of the Hearing Loss Association of America. Reece will attend Connecticut College in the fall.
ADDITIONAL HONORS
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Chidi Olewuenyi ’22 was named a recipient of the Women at Microsoft Scholarship, an annual scholarship awarded to promising high school college-bound, senior women and non-binary people who plan to be engaged in STEAM in their career. Awards vary in size and can be renewable for up to four years. The scholarship aims to empower and enable students to go to college with technology in mind—their passion for it, its impact, and how they can incorporate it into dynamic careers to make a difference in the world. The awards are based on personal, academic, and community engagement, as well as an essay highlighting a passion for technology and its impact. Chidi will attend Brown University in the fall.
WESTCHESTER ALUMNAE CHAPTER DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY SCHOLARSHIP
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WESTCHESTER ON THE SOUND MARGE MANLEY SCHOLARSHIP
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GRADE 7
AMC12 A
2nd – George B. ’29, David K. ’29
DIVISION M MATH OLYMPIAD TOP SCORERS AT RCDS GRADES 7 & 8
CERTIFICATE OF PROGRAMINYOUNGAWARDEXCELLENCEFORTHEWOMENMATHEMATICS
2nd – Sara d. ’27
TOP SCORERS AT RCDS
2nd – Spencer E. ’28, Ben K. ’28, Riley M. ’28, Zachary M. ’28, Koji N. ’29, Jack R. ’29, Leela T. ’29
Over one million students from the United States and Canada participate in Math League Contests each year. Every contest has questions from different areas of mathematics. The goal is to encourage student interest and confidence in mathematics through solving worthwhile problems. Many students first develop an interest in mathematics through problemsolving activities such as these contests.
GRADE 6
AMC12 B
MATHAMERICANCONTEST
DIVISION E MATH OLYMPIAD TOP SCORERS AT RCDS GRADES 5 & 6
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GRADE 8
2nd – Felix M. ’27
1st – Marshall B. ’28, Hunter S. ’28
3rd – Hunter S. ’28
NEW YORK MATH LEAGUE CONTEST
3rd – Alexander T. ’28, Arianna Y. ’28
2nd – Grant M. ’28
3rd – Grace F. ’29, Leela T. ’29
2nd – Maya M. ’27, Arianna Y. ’28
Last year nearly 170,000 students from 6,000 teams worldwide participated in the Math Olympiad. All 50 states and about 30 other countries were represented.
TOP SCORERS AT RCDS
1st – Koji N. ’29
1st – Melody W. ’28
3rd – Melody W. ’28 (Grade 6)
MATH OLYMPIAD
3rd – Charlene Dong ’26
AMC10 A
1st place – Ethan Xiao ’24 2nd place – Jordan Zhao ’24 3rd place – Andrew Zhang ’24
AMC10 B
1st – Arav Ramaswamy ’26, Maya T. ’27
TOP SCORERS AT RCDS
GRADE 5
1st place – James Song ’25 2nd place – Ronald Feng ’24
1st place – Rohan Malik ’23 2nd place – Aegus Kim ’24 3rd place – Peter Nicholas ’22
1st – Peter V. ’27
1st – Izzy B. ’28, Zachary M. ’28
1st place – Alyssa Chu ’25 2nd place – Andrew Zhang ’24
The American Math Contest is divided into three levels: one designated for students in middle school (AMC 8), one for students through Grade 10 (AMC 10), and another for students through Grade 12 (AMC 12).
Alyssa Chu ’25
MATHEMATICS
AMC 8 Gold – Melody W. ’28 Silver – Andrew Gao ’26, Frankie H. ’26 Bronze – Catherine L. ’28, Maya T. ’27
RCDS JordanAndrewEthanRohanAlyssaQUALIFIERSChu’25Malik’23Xiao’24Zhang’24Zhao’24
EXAMINATIONMATHEMATICSINVITATIONALAMERICAN
Alyssa Chu ’25 and Rohan Malik ’23 were invited to compete and represent RCDS. Alyssa participated, and her team, Team A, scored third place in the state.
NYSML (NEW YORK STATE LEAGUE)MATHFOR LEAGUECOUNTYWESTCHESTERTHEMATH
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The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) is an intermediate examination intended to provide challenge and recognition to high school students in North America who have exceptional mathematical andabilities.StudentswhoexcelintheAmericanMathCompetitions(AMC1012)areinvitedtoparticipateintheAIME.
MUSIC
Jefferson Zhou ’24 performed at the Fifteenth Annual NYSSMA Piano Showcase at this year’s New York State School Music Association Conference in Rochester, NY. Only 12 students from New York state were chosen for this distinguished event. Jefferson performed Un Sospiro (Movement 3) by Liszt. His piano teacher is Dr. Tomoko Uchino.
JeffersonWardZhou
The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) sponsors approximately 145 solo and small ensemble and major ensemble festivals in New York State each spring. Two Rye Country Day School students received All-State NYSSMA honors in 2022. After practicing diligently to hone their individual crafts and auditioning with advanced-level solos, they were selected for prestigious state-level ensembles and events. Honors ensembles at the county level were canceled this year due to the pandemic and will resume next year. NYSSMA All-State selection is very competitive, as over 7,000 students audition for the 890 positions in the eight All-State ensembles.
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Emilie Ward ’23, who sits as concertmaster of the RCDS String Orchestra and plays in the Norwalk Youth Symphony, was selected as an alternate for the NY All-State Orchestra. She auditioned with the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in e minor. Her teacher is Akiko Silver.
NYSSMA HONORSALL-STATE
Emilie
Throughoutgroup.the
Francesca Ricciarini ’24 played a set of original music and covers at The Bitter End this past February and then sang in the Seneca’s Village Music and Cultural Festival this June.
Francesca Ricciarini
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
Rohan Malik ’23 participated in the Claudette Sorel Piano Competition, playing Bach Prelude and Fugue No. 6 from The WellTempered Clavier and Un Sospiro by Liszt. He was selected for the competition’s prestigious Fellows Program, which is a weekend-long event with masterclasses and a culminating recital.
In May of 2022, Emma was a third-place winner in The Symphony of Westchester Concerto Competition. She played Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G Major K 216, Second Movement. The next month, she won first prize for violin in the middle school group at the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra’s Teen Talent Teen Contest, and Ayush received an honorable mention for marimba in the high school
Lucius Liu
Lucius Liu ’26 was the winner for piano in the middle school group of The Greenwich Symphony Orchestra’s 2022 Teen Talent Contest.
year, Ayush and Emma were invited to perform as guest artists in the Young Artist Philharmonic Concerts and in pianist and conductor Stefano Miceli’s concert series. In May, they were both also invited to perform at the Mills River Gala. Emma also had the opportunity to perform a duet, Tchaikovsky’s Song without Words with Francesco Borali from the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra.
Emma M.
Rohan Malik
Ayush Maini ’24 and Emma M. ’27 were recognized in a variety of musical competitions. At the New York Young Virtuoso Competition in November of 2021, Emma won first prize for Solo Violin, and her string quartet, the Phillip Quartet, won second prize. In December, the siblings participated in the VIVO International Music Competition. Emma won first prize for solo violin and Ayush won second prize for solo viola. That same month in the New York International Music Competition, Ayush won first prize for solo viola and Emma the same for solo violin. Emma’s ensemble, the Phillip Quartet, won first prize in the string quartet category.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCESRECOGNITIONS&
Lolly Kim ’23 was selected to participate in Stamford Street Beats, which features local musicians at outdoor street venues.
Lolly Kim
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Ayush Maini
Najah Diaz Jared Perlmutter Chloe Wise
NEW YORK ALLIANCE FILM AWARDEESFESTIVAL
Najah Diaz ’22, Jared Perlmutter ’24, and Chloe Wise ’22 were New York Alliance Film Festival winners. The festival, which was held virtually, connects independent school students from across New York State based on their shared interest in filmmaking. Najah and Chloe won Best Female Filmmakers for their short film Diet Coke, which stars Isabel Tiburcio ’24. Jared was named a Public Service Announcement Gold Medal Winner for High School.
CT District
RECOGNITIONSARTSCONGRESSIONALCOMPETITION
This is Ellen’s second Congressional Arts Competition recognition. In the fall, she received a Special Recognition Award in the 2021 Congressional Arts Competition for her painting Fragile, depicting a girl rescuing piglets from rising flood waters. The painting is being displayed for one year in the office of Congressman Jim Himes.
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*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
withJamaalCongressmanNYEllenJimCongressman4HimeswithChenDistrict16BowmanEllenChen
Describing her winning piece, Ellen wrote, “My artwork represents heritage that is passed down through generations and undermined by environmental issues. The fish is pieced together with an assortment of different plastic trash, which represents the pollution that diseases our oceans.” Ellen’s hope is to raise awareness and encourage action around environmental issues, which are tied to family identity.
ARTS
Ellen Chen ’24 won second place in the New York Congressional Art Competition. Her multi-media artwork, titled “A Twist in Grandma’s Recipe,” will be framed and displayed in NY District 16 Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s Washington, DC, and District congressional offices. The annual Congressional Arts Competition, which is sponsored by the Congressional Institute, recognizes and encourages artistic talent in high school students across the nation in each congressional district.
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Alen Matsui ’23 Happiness Behind the Mask (Photography)
Maladaptive (Dramatic Script) Texas in Soho (Photography)
SILVER KEY Celine Fong ’24 Girlhood, wrapped in Chinoiserie. (Poetry) Life over Cha-Siu (Personal Essay & Memoir) Beyond What You Can Reach (Photography) Breaking Point (Photography) hong kong canteen (Photography) Pink Shield Shopkeeping(Painting)(Photography)Y/N(Painting)
Keira Zheng ’25 Drowning (Poetry)
Ruth Zhao
MinaChenKim
Curly Hair and All (Personal Essay & Memoir) Love in Color (Photography)
GOLD KEY Emma Budke ’22 Looped Newspaper Sweater (Fashion)
Ethan Schales ’25 A Sticky Dilemma For Major League Baseball (Critical Essay)
Alen Matsui Keira Zheng Chidi Olewuenyi
Fighting Income Inequality Should Be a Priority (Critical Essay)
Donna Zhang
The Deep-Rooted History of Asian-American Gender-Based Discrimination (Critical Essay)
Jeffrey Tian ’22 Reminiscence (Painting)
Ethan Schales ’25 The Adventures of Jeff Jefferson (Humor)
Celine Fong ’24 until it washes over (Flash Fiction)
Anna Pickette ’24 Bark (Photography)
Katia Ohmacht ’24 Greed (Photography)
Isabel Tiburcio ’24
Chidi Olewuenyi ’22 The Future of Coral (Sculpture)
Charlene Dong Katia Ohmacht
Dylan Garbutt
Charlene Dong ’26 Time (Flash Fiction)
Lauren Kim ’23
Celine Fong
Nineteen RCDS students were recognized by the 2022 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. A jury of leaders in the visual and literary arts blindly judge student submissions on the basis of the awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. Student talent and skill are acknowledged by a Gold Key Award (top honor), Silver Key Award, or Honorable Mention.
ART & WRITING AWARDS
Lauren Kim Anna Pickette
Jeffrey Tian
Ellen Chen ’24 Consumption (Painting)
Ruth Zhao ’23 Self Destruction (Digital Art)
Ethan Schales Matthew Lee Isabel Tiburcio Stephen Mulderry
Ruth Zhao ’23 To Hold a Dying Sun (Digital Art)
Alen Matsui ’23 The Way Home (Photography)
Isabel Tiburcio ’24
2022 SCHOLASTIC
Mina Kim ’24 When It Snowed (Poetry)
Silver WomanKey(Poetry) - Silver Key The Eye Doctor (Flash Fiction)
Mina Kim ’24 What We Can See (Poetry)
Donna Zhang ’24 Glass and Tears (Short Story)
Ellen
Dylan Garbutt ’24 Ball Runner (Photography)
Chidi Olewuenyi ’22 Hidden Gems (Fashion)
Emma Budke
Ellen Chen ’24 Grandma’s Secret Recipe (Photography)
Celine Fong ’24 epitaph to a room (Poetry) Under The Iridescent Light (Painting)
Matthew Lee ’26 Ein Fremdes Conzept (Poetry)
Isabel Tiburcio ’24
Stephen Mulderry ’25 Star Warrior (Dramatic Script)
HONORABLE MENTION
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WRESTLING –PSAA 2021-22 The Varsity Wrestling team won the 2022 Prep School Athletic Association Championship.(PSAA)
RCDS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
BOYS’ SQUASH – NYSAIS 2021-22
WI LDCATS RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL ATHLETICS
The Boys’ Varsity Squash team won the 2022 NYSAIS Championship.
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GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY – WIHLMA 2021-22 The Varsity Girls’ Ice Hockey team won the 2022 WIHLMA (Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic) Miran Division Championship.
BOYS’ GOLF – NYSAIS 2022
The Boys’ Varsity Golf team won the 2022 NYSAIS Golf Championship.
Isabel Slippen
ATHLETICS
Tyvaughn Jones
Esaias Gonzalez ’25 broke the RCDS record in the 800m run (2:04.71) at the New Balance Nationals. The former record holder was Jonathan Shulman ’16 (2:05.41). Esaias competed at the New York State Federation Track and Field Championships in June of 2022.
Zachary Ong
Cleo Saltz
Alexander Nichols
Tyvaughn Jones ’22 took home the 2022 NYSAIS Wrestling Champion title in the 189-pound weight class. He was also recognized as the PSAA All-League MVP. In addition, Tyvaughn won the FAA Shot Put Championship with a throw of 40 feet, 0.75 inches. A multi-sport athlete, Tyvaughn will play football at Grinnell College.
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Zachary Ong ’22 was the 2022 NYSAIS Individual Champion in golf, shooting a 70. Nicky Smith ’25 finished tied for fifth place, shooting a 76. Zach and Nicky represented RCDS at the New York State Federation Championship in June of 2022.
William Kosann ’22 was selected as a member of the 2022 Academic All-State Basketball Team by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York. This honor is given to varsity basketball juniors or seniors with a minimum scholastic average of 90 and a recognition as First or Second Team All-Star by their league, section, or local media.
Cleo Saltz ’24 won two first-place events in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 2:33.94, and the 3,000-meter run, with a time of 11:54.33.
Isabel Slippen ’23 took home the 2022 NYSAIS Champion title in the indoor track 1,000-meter run and competed at the New York State Federation Indoor Championships in March of 2022.
Esaias Gonzalez
Alexander Nichols ’22 earned two first-place finishes in the FAA’s 100 and 200-meter dash races. He broke the RCDS 100-meter record with a time of 10.96 seconds. The record was previously held by Jimmy Sandling ’16 with 10.98. Alexander’s time for the 200-meter was 22.80. Alexander also took home the 2022 NYSAIS Champion title in the 200-meter run with a time of 22.64 seconds. He will continue his track career this fall at Amherst College.
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
William Kosann
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Five members of the RCDS Class of 2022 will continue their careers as student-athletes at some of the finest colleges and universities. The RCDS community looks forward to continuing to support them as they take this next step in their athletic careers. Tyvaughn Jones ’22 Grinnell College, Football Caroline Keating ’22 Bates College, Lacrosse Sriya Krishnan ’22 Haverford College, Tennis Jackson Merrill ’22 Stanford University, Water Polo Alexander Nichols ’22 Amherst College, Track and Field WILDCATS CONTINUE THEIR ATHLETIC CAREERS IN COLLEGE Sriya Krishnan ’22Jackson Merrill ’22Tyvaughn Jones ’22, Caroline Keating ’22, Alexander Nichols ’22
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Gabriella (Gabi) Jolly ’22 was named one of 10 Fairchester Athletic Association Scholar-Athletes. This recognition is presented to senior student-athletes who have reached the highest academic standards while playing two or more varsity sports and earning Fairchester Athletic Association All-League honors. At RCDS, Gabi took the most challenging of courses. She excelled in honors and AP courses while earning four varsity letters in squash and and five in golf, captaining both teams her senior year. In the Spring of 2022, Gabi contributed to an FAA Championship and earned FAA All-League honors in Golf. She
Varsity Field Hockey players Makayla Blake ’23 Emma Budke ’22 Leah Colin ’22 Caroline Harkness ’22, Hadley Hart ’23, and Caroline Keating ’22 were named to the 2021 NFHCA High School National Academic Squad. The program recognizes high school seniors who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher the first semester of the current academic year.
SCHOLARASSOCIATIONATHLETICFAIRCHESTERATHLETES
2021 FIELD HOCKEY SCHOLARS
and juniors
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